Method for the production monitoring of a labeling machine and labeling machine for labeling containers

Abstract

A method for the production monitoring of a labeling machine, and a labeling machine for labeling containers, comprising a transport means for continuously supplying the containers, at least one labeling assembly for transferring labels to the containers, and at least one label store for continuously supplying labels, is described. Accordingly, the filling state of the label store and a machine performance of the transport means and/or of the labeling assembly are continuously measured and, on this basis, at least one remaining running time is calculated, which indicates how long labeling can still be carried out, at the filling state, in the case of an assumed further course of machine performance. The output of the remaining running time facilitates continuous production planning and enables efficient personnel use for the required replenishment of consumables.

1 . Method for the production monitoring of a labeling machine, which comprises a transport means for continuously supplying containers, at least one labeling assembly for transferring labels to the containers, and at least one label store for continuously supplying the labels for the transfer,
 wherein the filling state of the label store is continuously measured and a machine performance of the transport means and/or of the labeling assembly is continuously measured and, on this basis, at least one remaining running time is calculated and output, which indicates how long labeling can still be carried out, at the filling state, in the case of an assumed further course of machine performance.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling state of at least one glue reservoir unit for the continuous provision of glue for attaching the labels to the containers is continuously measured, and at least one associated remaining running time is calculated and output, which indicates how long labeling can still be carried out, at the filling state of the glue reservoir unit, in the case of an assumed further course of machine performance. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein it is further calculated and output which of the label stores and glue reservoir unit has the shortest remaining running time and/or must be refilled first. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein a remaining quantity of containers, which is still to be labeled in a manner typical of type, is furthermore continuously determined, and on this basis a supply forecast is calculated and output, which indicates whether the filling state is sufficient for labeling the remaining quantity. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the output of at least the remaining running time takes place by its localized display on the labeling machine and/or by means of data transmission to a cross-machine monitoring system for the digital location-independent monitoring of machine states. 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein, for determining the filling state of the label store, the thickness of a label stack in a storage container currently used for label removal or the radius/diameter of a label roll currently used for label removal is measured continuously in a contactless manner by means of a distance sensor. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 6 , wherein a thickness of the labels is calculated on the basis of a decrease in the thickness of the label stack or the radius of the label roll measured over a production period and the number of labels processed meanwhile. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the remaining running times for all labeling assemblies running on the labeling machine are displayed on a central touchscreen assigned to the transport means or on another centrally assigned screen. 
     
     
         9 . Labeling machine for labeling containers, comprising: a transport means for continuously supplying the containers; at least one labeling assembly for applying labels to the containers; and at least one label store for continuously supplying the labels for the attachment thereof; and a monitoring system for the production monitoring of the labeling machine, wherein the monitoring system is designed for the ongoing measurement of the filling state of the label store and for the ongoing measurement of the machine performance of the transport means and/or of the labeling assembly, and is programmed for calculating and outputting at least one associated remaining running time based thereon, in order to indicate how long labeling can still be carried out, at the filling state, in the case of an assumed further course of machine performance. 
     
     
         10 . Labeling machine according to  claim 9 , further comprising at least one glue reservoir unit for the continuous supply of glue for attaching the labels to the containers, wherein the monitoring system is further designed for the ongoing measurement of a filling state of the glue reservoir unit and is programmed for calculating and outputting at least one associated remaining running time based thereon, in order to indicate how long one can still label with the filling state at an assumed further course of machine performance. 
     
     
         11 . Labeling machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the monitoring system is further designed to determine a remaining quantity of containers still to be labeled, and is programmed to calculate and output a storage forecast on this basis, which indicates whether the filling state is sufficient for labeling the remaining quantity. 
     
     
         12 . Labeling machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the labeling machine comprises at least one touchscreen for the localized display of at least the remaining running time, and/or the monitoring system is designed for data transmission at least of the remaining running time to a cross-machine monitoring system for digital location-independent monitoring of machine states. 
     
     
         13 . Labeling machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the labeling assembly comprises at least one distance sensor which operates in a contactless manner by means of ultrasound or laser light, in order to measure the thickness of a label stack in a storage container currently used for label removal. 
     
     
         14 . Labeling machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one distance sensor is further for determine the number for automatic replenishment of inserted full storage containers. 
     
     
         15 . Labeling machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the labeling assembly comprises at least one distance sensor which operates in a contactless manner by means of ultrasound or laser light for measuring the radius/diameter of a label roll currently used for label removal and for determining the number for automatic replenishment of inserted full label rollers.